Analysis of Intra-specific Genetic Variation in Calligonum polygonoides L. (Polygonaceae)—A Keystone Species of Indian Desert

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Calligonum polygonoides is an endemic and threatened species reported from semi-arid and arid zones of Rajasthan and adjoining desert belt especially on loose sand dunes. Polygonaceae, the family to which C. polygonoides belongs has about 12 genera distributed in India which comprises about 115 species, distributed chiefly in north temperate, arctic and southern regions, whereas a few are spread over tropical regions. This is the first attempt to determine the gametic chromosome number of C. polygonoides from various populations of arid zone regions in western Rajasthan. The genetic variation analyzed is based on chromosome associations, chiasma frequency at diplotene/diakinesis/metaphase I and pattern of disjunction of chromosomes at anaphase I.